Recall/Crisis Management

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In a new video and infographic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an overview of the traceback process used during foodborne illness outbreaks to investigate a food’s path through the supply chain.

A recent study has demonstrated the benefits of interagency collaboration during foodborne illness outbreak investigations. The study was conducted by researchers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA’s CFSAN) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The closing session of the 2023 Food Safety Summit featured a panel discussion among prominent attorneys who work on behalf of consumers and industry—with all advocating on the side of food safety. Expert lawyers discussed the common gaps and weaknesses they see in company operations, culture, and regulatory adherence that lead to adverse events, such as foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a report on its investigation of a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to cantaloupes that occurred during July–September 2022, and has highlighted food safety recommendations for melon growers and distributors.

Livsmedelsverket, the Swedish Food Agency, recently published a handbook to help the producers of drinking water develop a plan for ensuring the safety of their product during times of crisis and war.

The majority of food allergen recalls are caused by preventable labeling errors, according to a recent analysis of recall data for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) –regulated products.

Amid the pandemic in 2020, federal and state recall coordinators and their leadership teams took a closer look at the existing regulatory recall response efforts in the state of Georgia, and where collaboration exists between the two agencies. After creating a pilot template project in 2021, the recall shadowing concept was expanded to a larger network. Feedback from 12 additional agencies in 2022 strengthened the project to enhance partner integration efforts, with the ultimate goal to better protect public health during recall events.

Advocacy group Consumer Reports (CR) has compiled a list of the ten most high-risk foods, based on recall and foodborne illness outbreak data collected from federal food regulatory agencies.

The Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) has released an amended proposed draft guidance on the management of foodborne illness outbreaks associated with microbiological hazards.

This article presents the key findings of outbreak investigations from 2014–2021 that have been linked to the consumption of fresh, soft queso fresco-type cheeses in the U.S. The authors outline some of the specific circumstances that small manufacturers of all cheeses may encounter in an effort to provide lessons learned and highlight available resources.